Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-08-22
A Fateful Message.

SASANS- y az. AAAS A-A~al4h NANA>Sl0 OH
ers, had '.hard row 70 hoe" for
while. and who, Ike those who have
not since the eventful DAYS Of the
late war .-paSSed over the river" or
in soldiers vernacular passed in his
checks. occasionally takes 4 retro
spective view OF those grand and
eventfuI times and considers 1t a mat
ter OF wonderment that he still walks
the earth. "a thing Of life: :" ave, and
feeling younger and fresher than he
did twenty-seven years ago. "a boy
among the boys. still pursuing the
avOcaIions Of life. with hope ~ buoy
ant as when he shouldered arms and
marched with elastic step 10 the sound
Of .-Old Tom Roache's clarinet over
the grand old hills OF Vicksburg. the
admiration Of the lovely girls, : per
feet hero IN his own estimation. imag-
ining the eyes Of the world upon him
in awful wonderment
This much IS an Introductory Hail
ing from Houston. Texas. but st the
commencement Of the late unpleas-
antness temporarily residing in Vicks-
burg. the enthusiasm 30 prevalent in
the Hill CITY over the prospect OF Civ
ing the Mortimer s trial Of strength
was Ike other epidemic<. catching
and the writes system becoming
perfectly impregnated with the dis
ease. and not finding remedy. al
lowed II 70 take such hold that he
ST once wrote his name in bold
hand IS a member Of the Yicksburg
Cadets. IS noble = command IS ever
shouldered arms. and with 4 captain
F.. (Jesse White : true type Of the no
ble southern youth OF those days.whO
represented au that was chivalrOus.
honorable. fearless-in fact. Gods
noblest work. perfect gentleman
The writer OF this being at that
time : sound telegraph operator
something then 80 rare in the South.
= men Of that profession. mostly
haiIing from the North. silently fold
Cd their tents and hied themselves
nOrthward on the commencement Of
hostilities-was at once ordered from
his command. receiving instructions
70 report for duty. ii the capacity OF
operator 81 Corinth. Miss To de-
scribe the events Of the memorable
battle Of Shiloh would prove 8 thrice
told tale and only = repetition Of
what has been related 2 thousand
times. But memory viii still rise and
assert its functions. and hundreds OF
little telegrams handled by the writ
q present themselves.sucha a.: ''John
was badly wounded. but hope for the
best"
Poor Willie vas killed. gaIIantly
charging the enemy. VIII send re-
mains home
Brother James arm amputated,
may pull through. Break the news
ID mother gently"
Thank God brother and l are all
right.
General Sidney johnson killed.
We had the pleasure OF taking break
fast this morning in the enemvs
camp they having kindly prepared
and left Il for our benefit
Hundreds Of others came thick and
fast. taxing the operators night and
day 70 their fullest capacity
Are you safe: We wait in breath
less suspense
'-Oh. heavens. No telegram as you
promised. Are you hurt: Get a fur
lough and come home.
Many q one hundred dollar bill has
the writer been offered By clamorous
soldiers just from the front 70 send
his message first. s. his wife or other
dear ones would 20 crazy If no mess
age from him
These little teIegrams. though
flashed over the wire q quarter Of a
century ago, are a. vivid in the writ
er's memory a. II 'twere but yester-
dav.
Well. Ne fell back and the writer
was ordered 70 report Al once 70 Gen
eraI u. 7. Smith. commanding at
Yicksburg. where, IN 3 few days. up
% CUR ewes in kilograms destined for
President Davis and others IN author
ity.with thousands Of other kilograms
for Vicksburg. we soon discovered
that being 3 generals war operator
was no ehiId's play, and that 70 Be
with ones command would b far
more preferable
\ grand old telegrapher lee >
DanieI1. now master of transporta-
ton of the Macaroni railroad.running
from Rosenburg - Victoria was then
the manager Of the VicEzsburg Office,
and finer, Or more rapid telegraph
er nevel handled key q welded
pen: and he, know, can never for
get those busy and exciting days.
never think Of ny old partner except
with the feelings of brother
His dear old form and face. a. he
appeared II those days, vii ever be
before me. He was Samson IL the
lost cause Before the war q private
citizen. DR.. Horace IIbbets. living q
TransyITsnia Landing On the Miss
fssfppf river. caased 10 be established
3 telegraph line from Vfcksburg to
lake Providence This line he hafIt
for bis OEn private LIE IL order that
he might hare the nezs ~ the dav